Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 15th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Winter conditions persist. An incoming storm may deposit up to 25cm of storm snow. Watch at your local level for wind and storm slab development.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will still remain relatively cool for the next few days, with valley temperatures barely reaching above zero. Snowfall starting late today will deposit up to 25cm by midday on Tuesday. Currently the wind is blowing from the East and we expect it to swing back around to the SW late Monday and it will remain in the moderate range.

Snowpack Summary

10 - 20 cm of new snow over the last 48 hours with wind effect from moderate - strong SW winds. Buried temperature crusts exist to 2000m on all aspects and higher on solar slopes. The March 15 sun crust is down 25-50 cm on solar aspects in the alpine, this, and shallow areas harboring weak facets remain worth watching as temperatures slowly climb.

Avalanche Summary

3 skiers were hit from above by an avalanche and pushed approximately 500m down a couloir and onto a fan near Bow Lake yesterday. The debris spread out on the fan and all three skiers ended up on the surface. They sustained some injuries but were able to get back to their vehicle on their own. Lost skis, poles and other gear.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Gusty winds and new snow have formed soft slabs that are reacting to skier traffic. Watch for another pulse of snow to either contribute to these slabs or potentially hide them.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

While it has been a few days since there has been any confirmed events directly associated with the March 15 crust, other crusts have now become buried in similar locations. Forecasters still voice caution with all of these potential sliding layers.

Be cautious with convexities and steep slopes on solar aspects.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Apr 16th, 2018 4:00PM